Countrywide sit-ins dissipate after govt, protesters reach agreement

KARACHI/LAHORE: Countrywide protests that sprung up after Islamabad operation dispersed after protest groups and government reached an agreement early Monday.

Following the voluntary resignation of Federal Law Minister Zahid Hamid, the government and Faizabad protesters reached an agreement to end the 21-day-long sit-in in Islamabad.

A religious party made the official announcement to end the sit-in around 10:30am. The party's leader said they were given 12 hours to move out.

He appealed to protesters across the country to disperse, adding that the Faizabad-based protesters are packing up their things and will soon vacate the sit-in site.

The demonstrations and sit-ins held in Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the last three days resulted in at least one death and left dozens injured, besides the over 200 injuries reported in Islamabad.

Traffic jams were seen in various cities, resulting in commuters and ambulances being stuck for hours.

Lahore residents breathed a sigh of relief after all sections of the Motorway were opened for traffic, according to a spokesman for Motorway Police. 

However, the sit-in at Mall Road continues despite Monday's agreement between government and protesters in Islamabad.

Shops and major roads were reopened in Rawalpindi, as life returned to normal in the twin cities.

Similarly, sit-ins ended in several cities of Punjab including Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Mianwali and Kamonki, with businesses opening on Monday.

Peshawar’s Ring Road, where sit-ins were held for three consecutive days, was also reopened and all 14 places occupied by demonstrators were cleared. Manshera, Swat, Mardan and others were also affected by the sit-ins.

In Karachi, shops and markets in Clifton, Old City area, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Aram Bagh and Jamia Cloth opened as protests faded countrywide.

Life returned to MA Jinnah Road — where the main sit-in was being staged at Numaish roundabout — Malir, Landhi, Korangi and other areas of the megapolis.

Sit-ins were also ended in Larkana, Sukkur Hyderabad and other Sindh cities.